On the move: GOODBYE NEW YORK

Like a sponge, a writer or any creative person needs to soak up experiences before we can write about it. Doesn't have to be the same experiences, just life. I have soaked for almost a month; Now I am itching to get some work done. On my list of things to do: Write a second draft of a YA novel for a Danish publisher. Write a first draft of my screenplay at Film School. Draw 5-10 pages of two different comics pitches I am doing with US writers. Finish my own graphic novel Stiletto, set for release in Denmark next year. And answer a thousand emails and get a million other little things done.

So if blogpost here are thinning out a bit, there is a reason for it.

My month of workation in California, Portland, Oregon, San Diego and New York is over. Copenhagen seems smaller than usual. The last week in New York I didn't have time to do any blogging, but here are a couple of random memories:

• Going from heat wave to hail in one day, when the sky suddenly cracked open and it looked like the World was ending. Running through the storm with my youngest daughter, shielding us with the stroller while ice was smacking against it. And my daughter just laughing at the whole thing.
• The girls screaming with joy in a Central Park amusement park, spinning by on rides I wouldn't dare to get on.
• A girl in a mini-skirt doing a pole dance in the subway, her equally dolled-up girlfriends cheering her on.
• My two-year old daughter make her way through the crowded MoMA lobby, saying "Excuse me" in perfect English.
• Birthday drinks in Brooklyn with fellow cartoonists - short but sweet.
• Guitarist Pat's tall tales of his adventures in Denmark. Or rather, his week in a surreal palace location in a remote part of the country, surrounded by characters even the best writer would have trouble making up.
• Seeing The Dark Knight Rises on IMAX, courtesy of writer Charles Soule, and discussing global warming while walking through a hot and humid nighttime Manhattan, lit up by neon lights.
• A rambling old man on the subway, obviously doped up on something, eating ice cream out of the bucket and yelling out his view of a world run by rich white people, obvously including my friend and I in this Rockefeller conspiracy. A young hip hop dude's remark to us: "He does not represent black people". Sad that he felt the need to point that out.
• Carrying my sleeping two-year old daughter through the metal detectors and on and off airplanes.
• Being met by a friend at the airport who took care of our apartment while we were gone and seeing my oldest daughter jump up in her arms, happy to see a familiar face after a month on the road. Feeling like the luckiest man in the world, to be able to travel with my wonderful girls and be met by our car at the airport and a filled refrigirator at home.

To all my friends, new and old: Thank you.

On the move: COMIC CON CLOSED

The Con is over! One more picture post before I crash.

Apparently reading comics is a sin. Good to know.

 

Panel about pitching your creator-owned comics



Han Solo (frozen), Boba Fett (cool), some guy (not so cool)



Catwoman and Harley Quinn

Uh, guys did you forget to put on the rest of your costumes?

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund rooftop party

Hey, that's Nikolaj on that car!

A luchador rushing to catch his bus. Or something.

This guy caught a bunny



Aspirin in patriotic colors

Good night San Diego

On the move: COMIC CON CULTURE CLASH

Dave McKean talking about using music as a springboard for emotional connection to his work

Day 4 at Comic Con and fatigue is starting to set in. While the wif and kids are at Sea World, I roam the floors of Comic Con and try not to embarrass myself too much.

Last night was a lot of fun, met a lot of Brooklyn artists at Trickster, learnt about the current New York heat wave. I hope it's cooled down when we flyover there on Tuesday! Far as I know I'm still the only Danish cartoonist here, but Americans are so easy to talk to and very including. Not like Danes, who don't usually talk to strangers and have a more mind-your-own-business-and-stay-out-of-the-other's-way kind of behavior - much like in a men's urinal!

I did have a couple of downer moments. One was spilling half a beer on Kevin Colden (sorry!) and the other was more a question of my vanity taking a blow. Someone I was talking to at the Hyatt bar basically said: "Oh, that's very interesting. I'm going to go over here now" and walked away. But he was British, maybe that explains it. They do have a history of snooty arrogance.

This morning I attended a panel on World Building at Trickster (above pic) with writers/creators like Steve Niles, Dave McKean, Josh Fialkov, B. Clay Moore and Craig Thompson. The discussion was just as much about relatable characters as beliavable scenery. It's all connected. Besides being awestruck by the talent on display, the smile on my face continued from last night - from the sheer awesomeness of this whole venue. As Scott Morse said, Trickster is all about accessability and the chance for like-minded creators to get together and learn from each other. And music, alcohol and half-naked girls prancing around. What's not to like?

But - even though I love - LOVE -Trickster, I should drag my hangover to the convention centre soon. Once more into the breach, my friends.

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On the move: MORE COMIC CON CRAZINESS

Sorry, too tired to write a clever post today. You get some pictures instead.

Muscle baby



Welcome to the doll house

Repent your sins, comic readers!

Wonder Woman and a lucky guy about to get punched

 

Batman, where are you? I can't find you!

Jabba the Hutt and Jimmy Palmiotti. That's Jabba on the right.

On the move: TRICKSTER!!!

Life drawing at TRICKSTER 2012

YES, they did it again!

As a counterpart to the massive pop culture phenomenon that is SDCC, Scott Morse and a bunch of other artists started TRICKSTER, a comics related arts forum. Or hangout, I guess is a better word for it. Set in a downtown bar, TRICKSTER offers creator owned books and art prints for sale, events and panel discussions and a cozy atmosphere to kick back in and talk to like-minded artists and industry people. This year, the event can be found at 795 J Street, San Diego. It's in the ally right next to the stadium.

I went there last night, had a few beers and talked to a bunch of people - even sold one of my books to a guy (Thanks Alan!) who proudly proclaimed that he had contributed a LARGE sum to the Kickstarter campaign for Trickster, his perk being that he was to be killed off in a Steve Niles scripted comic book. The amount of money he paid for this blew my mind, and I immediately offered to kill him off in one of my books for a fifth of that. That offer still stands! I will kill anyone for money!

This morning I went back for a storytelling panel with Pixar artist Scott Morse, writer/editors Sheila Keenan, Scott Allie and Bob Shreck and writer James Robinson. Some good advice on structure, story and plot versus character was given, and also quite a few insights into working with editors and breaking in to the comics industry. TRICKSTER is a much more interesting venue for me than the actual convention, so if you want to buy me a beer, you know where to find me.

If you are looking to buy a Jedi costume this weekend, go to Comic Con. If you're looking for some great creator-owned works and a chat with some amazing artists, go to TRICKSTER.

On the move: COMIC CON!!!

Once again, I find myself in San Diego for the craziest comics event of the year. Thousands upon thousands of people make their way (or wallop their way, in some cases) to the convention centre by the harbor, for a mind-bending cultural mix of comics, movies, action figures, toys, porn, fast food and video games. It's loud, it's overwhelming, it's crowded - and buried somewhere in there in the smell of sweat, popcorn and onion rings, is some of the most amazing comic book art you will ever see. Or not see, depending on when you bail out of there. I personally only lasted half an hour today, and 20 minutes was spent just getting to the IDW booth to pick up a box of my books. And that box was HEAVY, so please; If you see me walking around, ask to buy a book off of me, so I don't have to carry them all back home. I'll give you a díscount and a personal sketch!

If you're NOT around San Diego this weekend, you'll be missing out on a lot of Slave Leia's, video game previews and great comics. You can still get my book though, just click the Amazon link to your right, or get it in digital format on Comixology here.

On the move: PORTLAND COMICS COMMUNITY - PART II

I spent a day at Periscope Studio here in Portland yesterday, enjoying the company of some very talented people. I met writer Jeremy Barlow in San Diego last year and we have kept in touch. Yesterday I was finally able to buy him that beer I had been promising. It was great to talk storytelling with someone who seems to know what he is doing and we share a lot of the same sensibilities and influences. I found out he was also a huge James Ellroy fan, and he even knew a couple of Danish bands.

With so many interesting people around it was a wonder I got any work done, but I did manage to get down some character sketches for a pitch I'm puting together with US writer Chris Miskiewicz. Hope you read this, Chris! Yes, I'm on it!!

In answer to what brings all the comics people to Portland, the people I talked to at Periscope seemed to think it was a snowball effect. First Dark Horse moved here, then a bunch of creators, which again attracted more.

Today we head for San Diego, where I will be at Comic Con and the wife and kids will be at the pool. Who get's the better deal, only time will tell.

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Location:SW Stark St,Portland,United States

On the move: PORTLAND COMICS COMMUNITY - PART I

I had the pleasure of taking comics writer Joe Keatinge out to lunch today. Joe is the current writer of Glory and the writer/creator of Hell Yeah. Joe was kind enough to show me around in his studio Tranquility Base and share some of his insights as a working professional in the comics industry. One of his nuggets of wisdom was a quote from Hank Williams; "You've got a full time job minding your own business". Meaning you shouldn't really spend time thinking about what other people have or what they think. True words, although we both agreed it was very hard to avoid surfing for mentions or reviews of your book, however futile it is. And it's hard not to get slightly annoyed when people review your book and it's obvious they haven't read it! Joe's take on why Portland attracts so many comics people, is the laid back atmosphere, the low cost of living and the city's supportive mindset towards artists in general.

Tomorrow, I am going to see people at the larger Periscope Studio down the block. Looking forward to hearing their version of why this city is the place for comics creators. After that it's Comic Con time!

On the move: WESTSIDE

Finally arrived in Portland, after a week of adventures on the road up from San Francisco. If you call sitting in a car with screaming kids in the back an adventure. Well, thankfully that was a small part of it. Redwoods, beaches, cliffs, mountains and the famous Crater Lake - we've seen more of Mother Nature than we usually do all year round back in Denmark.

Now we're in the city again, searching for the truth behind the fact that Portland has a huge comics community. Why? Because there is no sales tax in the state of Oregon? Because of the climate? Because of the price of ink? I will see if I can find an answer. Until that comes, here are some pictures from our trip so far. Quite off topic, but hey, it's my blog I can put whatever I want on it, right?

The Devil's Concubine: DIGITAL VERSION NOW AVAILABLE

If you own an iPad or a device like it, you will be pleased to know that The Devil's Concubine is now available as digital download! Please share the happy news with everyone.

Copy/paste this link:
http://www.comixology.com/The-Devils-Concubine/comics-series/8475

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